BATTLE CREEK

Near this site, July 12, 1859, Nebraska Territorial Militia
and U. S. Army Dragoons, totaling 300 men, under the joint command
of General John Milton Thayer and Lieutenant Beverly Holcombe
Robertson, prepared to attack a large Pawnee village. Alerted,
the Pawnee immediately surrendered. Without bloodshed, the Pawnee
War of 1859 was ended.

It had begun July 1st, when messengers arrived at Omaha, the
territorial capital, reporting numerous depredations by Pawnee
against Elk Horn Valley settlers. If the Pawnee were to be punished,
immediate action was necessary.

Only the Governor could call out the militia, however, and
Governor Samuel Black was a day's journey away. Petitioned by
Omaha citizens, Territorial Secretary J. Sterling Morton assumed
the responsibility and issued the call. Thayer with forty men
left immediately in pursuit. A few days later he was joined by
Governor Black with more volunteers and Lieutenant Robertson with
Co. K of the 2nd U. S. Dragoons.

Though no battle occurred, the stream where the attack took
place became known as Battle Creek, and the nearby town took the
same name when founded in 1867.